How To Get Pearly White Teeth

Teeth whitening at home, without needing an expensive and inconvenient trip to the dentist, has some obvious appeal. But many DIY teeth whitening treatments run the risk of damaging your gums and nerves, or stripping enamel and making teeth more susceptible to deterioration (and immediate discoloration, too, which is exactly what you don't want.)

The good news, however, is that there are indeed safe and effective at-home teeth-whitening methods. Many of these methods are also preventative, in that they magnify the longevity of past whitening efforts, and maximize the time between efforts.

For more advice, we spoke with renowned aesthetic dentist Dr. Michael Apa of Apa Aesthetic in NYC, LA, and Dubai. He stressed that whitening should be just one part of a broader oral care routine—and that a pro will always be able to whiten better and quicker. With those caveats he broke down an 8-step plan for teeth whitening at home.

1. Get regular professional cleanings

Dr. Apa isn't against those convenient at-home whitening strips or gel trays. But he says, in order to make them effective, you should have had a professional dental cleaning in the month or two prior—even with the best DIY whitening methods. This way, your teeth and gums are in top form, and without any plaque accumulated that could otherwise create a contrasting effect after the whitening efforts. Not to mention, it ensures you're on top of your oral health.

You wouldn't necessarily think so, but healthy gums are imperative for brighter teeth: "If a patient's gum health is not top notch, bleaching is a bad idea. Inflamed, puffy gums can be an indicator of poor oral hygiene and contribute to a vicious cycle of compromised brushing and flossing because the area is so sensitive."

2. Be a conscious consumer of staining foods and drinks

Instead of cutting back on the tooth-staining things you like, Dr. Apa believes in a "conscious consumption" approach. "Stay hydrated by drinking water, to help maintain brightness. And consume pigmented drinks (like coffee and tea) through a straw," he says. He also says that the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away'' can be applied to brighter teeth: "Biting into roughage and textured foods can help remove debris in between brushing and flossing."

Or, after consuming things like red sauce, wine, coffee, soda, and the likes, you should brush as promptly as possible. "Routine brushing and flossing are little things that can also make a big difference in minimizing stains," he adds.

3. Keep a post-whitening buffer

For 48 hours after any treatment, you need to let your enamel recover and rebuild. That's because teeth are porous, and anything with staining powers can harbor inside those pores much more easily in this vulnerable period. This is a quick way to instantly undo any brightening progress. "Avoid food and drinks with heavy coloring—things like berries, red sauce, coffee, and red wine can derail whitening efforts," Apa says. "We always say, 'if it will stain a white t-shirt, it will stain your teeth.'"

4. Use a sonic toothbrush

Apa urges his patients to use a sonic toothbrush. "The vibration allows for a deeper clean and gets between the tooth and gumline in a way that a regular toothbrush cannot," he says. "Also, pay attention to the angulation of the brush; it should be right along the gumline."

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean electric toothbrush

Read More: The Best Electric Toothbrushes

5. Brush twice daily, floss once daily

If you want to keep teeth brighter longer, then you need to brush twice a day and floss once a day, Apa says. "This routine will not only help aesthetically with things like staining, but also promote oral health. And, again, make sure to visit your dentist's office twice a year for routine cleanings and checkups.

6. Choose an enamel-building toothpaste

When it comes to toothpaste, you want to choose a "whitening" paste that promotes enamel repair and production. That's because reinforcing enamel is one of the best ways to prevent stains. Dr. Apa himself produces one of our favorite brightening toothpastes, with the enamel-building ingredient hydroxyapatite.

Apa Beauty Apa White Toothpaste

7. Play a slower, gentler brightening game

You've got two options for a ADA-recommend approach to DIY whitening treatments: 10% carbamide peroxide, or 3.6% hydrogen peroxide—or anything non-abrasive that whitens without peroxide. It's much safer on your teeth and gums to do slower, spaced-out treatments (intervals vary by product), than quick-fix ones with unsafe formulas. Of those two key ingredients, Apa notes that hydrogen peroxide is more fast-acting and higher sensitivity, while carbamide peroxide is more slower acting, and creates less sensitivity. So if you have to pick between the two options, carbamide peroxide will be less abrasive.

This Colage pen is a great hydrogen peroxide option, and these strips from Limineux do the job ultra-gently.

Colgate Optic White 3% hydrogen peroxide pen

Lumineux non-abrasive whitening strips

8. Know that professional whitening is always best—and fastest

"Because in-house whitening is administered under professional care, it can have higher percentages of bleach and, therefore, yield more immediate results," Apa says. "If patients experience sensitivity, technicians are equipped with a special treatment for immediate relief." Apa always recommends doing professional whitening treatments in office, and then maintaining that brightness with at-home methods—rather than relying on the DIY treatments as a foundation.

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